This week in trending topics: UCLA Greek’s are under fire and the black community is not happy with Raven-Symoné.
University of California, Los Angeles Greek’s host “Kanye Western” party
In bizarre news, UCLA’s Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Alpha Phi sorority, both predominately white, have sparked a huge controversy over their “Kanye Western” themed party. According to the LA Times, students attending the party donned black face, wore oversized clothes (to mock Kanye West), and stuffed their pants for the enhanced butt effect (to mock Kim Kardashian).
Pictures of the party quickly went viral which left UCLA’s African American students outraged with claims of racism. The hashtag #BlackBruinsMatter (Bruin = UCLA mascot) trended on twitter and students packed into Chancellor Gene Block’s office demanding a response. Although they didn’t get a response from Block, Vice Chancellor, Jerry Kang, expressed his concerns to the students.
“It’s one thing to suggest you are actually focusing on one celebrity who is African American, it’s another thing to take it as a license to perform every attribute, every stereotype, every grotesque minstrelsy that you see,” said Kang.
UCLA released a statement soon after saying: “While we do not yet have all the facts, the alleged behavior is inconsistent with good judgment as well as our principles of community. We remind students that while they are free to celebrate in ways that draw on popular culture, their specific choices can cause harm and pain to fellow members of their community. Put simply: Just because you can do something, does not mean you should.”
Sigma Phi Epsilon’s and Alpha Phi’s UCLA chapter have temporarily suspended activities during an investigation of the incident.
Raven-Symoné slams “ghetto” names
Raven-Symoné, actress and The View co-host, is in the news yet again for making sideways comments about black people. During a segment on The View called “Are You Judged by Your Name?” Raven, who is black, said that she is “very discriminatory” and would never hire someone named “Watermelondrea”.
In return, the black community on Twitter, aka “Black Twitter” clapped back, calling Raven-Symoné a hypocrite, being that her own name is considered to be “unique”.
Some of the tweets said:
“Did Raven-Symoné forget that her first name is actually two names hyphenated together with an unnecessary accent? She’s a hypocrite.”
“Condoleezza Rice is lucky Raven-Symoné wasn’t working for HR when she was looking for a job. #Watermelondrea”
“How do you, a Black person w/ an ethnic name, justify proudly endorsing discriminatory hiring practices on a national platform, @ravensymone?”
Raven was also slammed for giving off the idea that it is okay to treat people differently because of their non-traditional names.
Shenqua Golding over at Vibe Magazine said:
“Raven Symone proves the caramel macchiato skin she’s drenched in does not reflect the ideals and isms of black people. To say you’re not hiring someone named “Watermelon-Andrea” means you have bought into the white supremacist belief of professionalism and acceptance.”
As a result of the back lash, Raven-Symoné released a statement on her Facebook page apologizing for her comments.
“As an equal opportunity employer, I have never discriminated against a name, even though I said I would, it’s not true. My comment was in poor taste. My lack of empathy towards name discrimination was uncalled for,” said Raven.
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